Toy glider



Dec. 20, 1938. Q TYRRELL 2,140,821

TOY GLIDER Filed March 10, 1956 FIG. I

4 INVENTOR. 7 (7/0002? 0, 7Qrre/l BY Wm ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIQI Application March 10,

12 Claims.

This invention relates to toys and specifically contemplates the provision of gliders adapted to be thrown or shot into the air with an elastic band or by any of the various well known forms of catapult, and which, upon the exhaustion of the momentum thus imparted, are adapted to glide in a manner simulating an airplane. As the altitude initially attained determines to a large degree the success of operation of such devices, which is usually considered dependent upon the length of time aloft and the distance covered in a single flight, it is ordinarily desirable to direct a substantially vertical course. However; due to the relative position of the rigidlyvconstructed stabilizer and supporting wing or wings of gliders of the prior art, such devices tend to assume a horizontal position before their upward momentum is spent, and are particularly susceptible to change of course by wind currents during their ascent, which dissipate their vertically directed volitation with the consequent reduction in the time and distance of their subsequent glide.

It is therefore a particular object of the present invention to provide a device adapted to utilize air pressure created by its own velocity to maintain the wing from its normal supporting posi tion relative to the body, and employ the wing to augment the function of the stabilizer in compelling a straight course during and to the conclusion of the first upward step of its flight.

It is another object to provide a glider adapted to be catapulted into the air embodying means actuated by a reduction in head-wind pressure to compel the device to assume a substantially horizontal position and volplane, subject to influence by wind currents, downwardly, to simulate in appearance, the flight of an airplane.

Another object is to provide a glider having a lo folding wing surface operating during the course of its manually-actuated upward flight as a variable rudder to resiliently receive gusts of wind and direct the flight of the glider toward a vertical ascent, and which wing surface, at the exhaustion of the upward momentum of the glider, will assume the sustension of the device to facilitate in prolonging its downward glide.

Still other objects such as economy of manufacture, ease of assembly and repair, adaptability to light but sturdy construction, resiliency between the wing surface and body resulting in less likelihood of fracture or displacement thereof, stability in flight and attractive appearance, will 5 be obvious to those of skill in the art to which this invention appertains.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the low-wing monoplane glider embodying one form of my invention;

1936, Serial No. 68,045

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified form of my invention;

Figs. 3' and 4 are elevations of the gliders illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively.

Referring to thedrawing in detail, the numerals ,5 of which indicate similar parts throughout the several views, 5 designates the rigid body of my invention, having preferably a rounded nose 6, .tapering rearwardly. A wing 7, comprising in use, successively, a rudder and supporting plane 1}) surface, is provided, composed of any well known material embodying both resiliency and strength. Wing I is pivotally secured to approximately the middle of the underside of body 5 by a hinge 8 to permit the wing to be swung back to the rear l5 of the glider in a position substantially parallel with the body 5. The position of attachment of the hinge 8 to the body is determined by the longitudinal distribution of weight of the device, it being preferable to space the wing relative to ,20 the ends of the body so that when the wing is operating in its forward supporting capacity, it will be slightly rearward of the balance of the plane, for a purpose hereinafter described. The composition of and the means for securing the hinge to, respectively, the wing and body, are not specifically described, being dependent largely upon the materials employed, but are believed to be well Within the knowledge of those of skill in this art.

At the rear end of the body, a vertically disposed M fin 9 is mounted, extending upwardly from the side of the body opposite to that to which wing .l is attached. To insure rigidity of the fin, the end of the body is bifurcated so as to form a slit in which the lower end of the fin is glued or otherwise secured. A stabilizer H disposed perpendicularly to fin S3 is secured by well known means to cooperate with the fin in maintaining the equilibrium of the glider in flight. 40

While wing I may be folded backward on its hinge 3 against stabilizer it during the first stage of its flight to most efficiently utilize the force of its projection, the wing must necessarily assume a forward position near the balance .of the body in order to sustain its weight during its subsequent glide. To this end an elastic band i2 is provided to encircle the body and hinge. Notches l3-,-l3 are cut on each side of the hinge adjacent its attachment to the wing, in which band I2 is hooked. As the notches are turned with the hinge to the opposite side of the point of pivot when the wing is folded to its rearward position the opposite reaches of the band are required to pass across the flank of the hinge, over the pivot thereof and thence around the body 5. The length required for this circuit being greater than the length of the band around the hinge and body when the wing is in its forward position it will be apparent that the band is stretched as the wing with a transverse slot It extending into its for-' is folded back. The contractive urge of band l2, due to its elasticity, will thus resiliently urge the wing to its forward position which it will normally assume in the absence of other influences.

l4 indicates a projection secured in the underside of nose 6 of the body and is inclined toward the rear thereof, which may be engaged by an elastic band (not shown) or any well known form of catapult to project the device into the air.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 2 and 4, a modified form of tail structure is provided in which the end of the body is bifurcated horizontally to receive the stabilizer H as indicated at I 5. The upper bifurcation so formed is bifurcated Vertically to provide reinforcing forks between which fin 9 is secured. However, it will be obvious that various changes may be made in arrangement and depth of the bifurcations and that any well known means may be substituted for that shown for supporting the tail structure.

The single wing of the glider illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, being above the body, is provided ward edgein alignment with fin 9. Thus when the wing is folded back on the stabilizer H the fin will project through slot !5 so as to permit the wing to assume a position substantially parallel to the body.

In operation, an elastic band, spring, or other form of catapult is attached to projection l4 and extended in front of the glider. Wing l is folded back on the stabilizer and the plane is projected. The pressure of the air, created by the velocity of the plane (combined with the weight of the wing in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2) maintains the wing against the stabilizer, which in this position cooperates with the fin in directing the device in the direction intended, preferably vertical, to attain maximum altitude, and particularly prevents influences of its upward course by gusts of wind.

As the speed of the glider will determine the amount of pressure on the wing surface, the exhaustion of the upward momentum of the glider will permit elastic band l2 to snap the wing to its forward position and resiliently retain the wing in such position, to permit the glider to volplane subject to wind influences, slowly downward.

It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that various changes may be made in size, arrangement, proportion, and design of the parts; that the embodiments illustrated and described may be combined to provide a biplane; that a reduction in the length of the slot H3 or any adjustrnent thereof to enable contact of the end of the slot with an inclined edge of fin 9 when the wing is in its aft position may be utilized to determine the angle of the rudder in its upward flight, and, accordingly, the direction of such flight; and further that a spring or a metallic band may supplant elastic l2 to maintain control of the wing, all without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to cover by Letters Patent is:

1. In a toy glider, a body having nose and tail portions, a stabilizer connected to said tail portion, a fin also connected to said tail portionsubstantially perpendicular to said stabilizer, and a supporting Wing having one of its edges hinged to the body.

2. In a toy glider, a body having nose and tail portions, a stabilizer connected to said tail portion, a fin also connected to said tail portion substantially perpendicular to said stabilizer, a supporting wing, and a hinge connecting said wing pivotally with said body at a point intermediate the weight center and the tail portion of said body to permit the wing to be; swung to the tail portion substantially parallel to the axis of the body.

3. A toy glider having a body, a supporting plane, a hinge connecting said plane and body to permit the plane to be swung to the rear of the body, and resilient means normally urging said plane to its forward position relative to the body. 4. In a toy glider, a body having a tail structure comprising means to control the angle of the body relative to its course in flight, a wing, means to pivotally connect the rear longitudinal edge of said wing to said body, and means to resiliently restrain said wing in a normal body-supporting position.

5. Ina toy glider, a body, a supporting wing connected to said body, said wing being movable selectively to the rear of the body substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof and to the weight center of the body, and means to urge said wing to a forward position, said last-named means being actuated by a reduction in headwind velocity below a predetermined degree.

6. In a toy glider, a body portion, a plane having its rearward edge hing-ed to said body, and means to resiliently urge said plane to its normal weight-supporting position relative to the body.

'7. In a toy glider, a body having nose and tail i portions, a stabilizer and fin connected, relatively perpendicular, to said tail portion, a wing having one longitudinal edge hinged to the body to permit the wing to be swung to the rear of the body, and a transverse slot in said wing extending through the oposite longitudinal edge thereof.

8. A toy glider comprising a body portion and a wing, relatively hinged, to permit the wing to assume positions parallel to the body either substantially at the weight center of the body or at the tail thereof and means to move said wing from a rearward position to a forward position.

9. Ina toy glider, a body having nose and tail portions, said tail portion having intersecting furcations therein, a stabilizer disposed in one of said furcations, a fin disposed in another of said furcations so as to form a right angle with said stabilizer, and a wing hinged to said body slightly rearward of the weight center of said body.

10. In a toy glider, a body portion, a supporting wing hinged to said body portion to permit the wing to assume positions substantially parallel to the body adjacent to either the weight center of the body or the tail thereof.

11. A toy glider having in combination a body, a wing connected and retained at the rear of said body, and means to move said wing to a forward body-sustaining position, said means being actuated by a reduction in head wind velocity.

12. A toy glider having in combination a body, a tail structure connected to said body comprising a stabilizer and fin, a supporting wing connected to and retained at the rear of said body, means to move said wing to a forward body-sustaining position, said means being actuated by a reduction in head wind velocity, and a hook for the releasable engagement of propelling means. 

